Greek protestors put up giant banner at Acropolis

ATHENS — Greek protestors put up a giant banner early Monday at Athens’ iconic Acropolis urging a “counter-attack” against an austerity package imposed by foreign creditors to avoid default.

The protest by the communist trade union Pame came just ahead of a parliamentary debate on the austerity package, which the government needs to pass if it is to get another package of EU-IMF aid.

“The peoples have the power and never surrender. Organize counter-attack,” the banner said in Greek and English.

About 300 activists of the union entered the site and put up the banner at the foot of the Parthenon before the site opened to the public, Christos Katzotis, one of the organisers, told AFP.

Greece has debts of some 350 billion euros and needs a second bailout worth more than 100 billion euros after a 110-billion-euro bailout by the European Union and the International Monetary Fund last year proved insufficient.

In exchange however, the EU and IMF have demanded further public spending cuts and an aggressive privatisation plan.

Unions have called a 48 hour strike from Tuesday to oppose the package which is expected to be adopted later this week by parliament.